Review moment

Garfungo: Thank you! the story shouldn't last too long now, I think. But I will try for it to have the highest quality possible.

jdh: Thank you! Hopefully this here will make your day more enjoyable!

ion boi: The thing is I kinda don't trust myself to write smut. To be honest I don't enjoy reading it, and writing the more explicit parts would be hard. Though I hope that I what I wrote today will kinda make up for that, at least as a token. But I'm glad you enjoyed the previous chapter and hope you enjoy this one too!

Time marched on.

...

"Really? But is it really necessary?"

Percy rolled his eyes. "Of course it is. I know I am currently spoiled, and receiving a pension. But come on. I'm gonna go crazy if I don't do anything."

"Still, Psychology seems so random."

"I have to try something."

"I know, but-"

"Don't you trust me?" Percy asked with a smile.

"I do. I am not trying to change your mind."

...

"That was a horrible idea." He said, not three months into his graduation.

"I know."

"I should have listened."

"It's not that it doesn't suit you..."

"It's terrible."

...

"What was Thalia Grace doing here exactly?"

"Don't tell me you're jealous of a hunter." Percy mocked.

"I should smite you for your insolence. I was simply curious."

The insolent pest laughed. "Oh, damn. She was chastising me for dating you."

"Typical." Aphrodite scoffed.

"She tried to slap me in the face."

"WHAT?!"

...

He arrived with his clothes soaking wet. Not being able to dry himself in public was a bitch. But he was alone now, so he willed himself for the water in his body to vanish.

But of course, he wasn't alone.

"Why in Uranus's name is Camp Half-Blood flooded?!" Aphrodite questioned him, sitting on his couch wearing clothing way too revealing for the tone she was using.

"I'm first hearing this. Why do you think I have something to do with it?"

"Because you're always at the epicenter of problems." She argued, smirking.

"That is a lie," Percy said, trying to focus on her eyes. "But... I think I know... Oh, man, they didn't think this through."

"What?" She inquired, smile disappearing.

He couldn't help but burst out laughing. "Your cabin. They hate me. Because... oh, damn it, you know."

Aphrodite mouth's opened in realization. "So..."

"They told me they would desecrate Cabin 3. I just never thought they would go through with it."

"By Hades..."

...

The air was still pretty humid from the water flooding the camp being flooded only yesterday. The grass lived again, and the night's cold breeze was refreshing enough. Well, whenever he could actually sense it, wearing this big-ass helmet.

Capture The Flag had become a bit boring since he was deemed too powerful and made to be in positions that weren't defending his own flag or at the frontline. So that only meant he was left with stalking around the forest, thankful that no monsters were brave enough to jump at him. All he had to do was wait to stop an enemy and bring an end to them.

In the game, obviously.

"There he is!" A voice shouted, causing Percy to spin at the right moment, dodging an axe that had been thrown at him. A group of four stood with swords in their hands, the smaller of them all in the lead.

"You blew our cover!" A girl screamed.

"It doesn't matter!" Another boy retorted. "Attack."

And attack, they did. But they weren't very good at it. In fact, by Camp standards, these guys were awful. Quickly deflecting all their blows, he elbowed and swung at these campers, and all were quickly on the ground in a few seconds.

They were from the red team, sure, however... this felt more like an ambush. A terribly executed one, but...

"Percy!" A voice called. It was Piper, no Katoptris in sight. "Damn, it, I told them not to come look for you!"

She sounded exasperated, and just then, it clicked.

Holy hell, these Aphrodite campers were annoying.

...

"Just then Piper showed up?" Never had Percy seen Aphrodite look so embarrassed.

"Yeah. She was livid. Those guys are probably gonna clean the toilets in your cabin for at least a year.

For a moment, there was silence. "Percy?"

"Yes, Aphrodite?"

"Please don't mind them. Children are stupid."

"You don't need to tell me that."

...

Morning had come.

And Percy's first sight was the sight of two ever-shifting irises staring at him.

"Good morning," Aphrodite said. They had taken the liberty to remain a few days together, after almost two weeks of no contact. And they had managed to really make the most of it, going out to a cafe, the mall, to the movies, and finally...

Well, they were at a motel.

"Morning." Percy yawned. "Did you sleep well?"

"Of course I did." Aphrodite held him, hand caressing his bare chest. "I never sleep well without you."

"Not like you need to sleep," Percy argued, a smile gracing his lips.

The goddess pouted, amused. "Of course not. But it's so comfortable, to be held like this."

"It's funny, I see you treating what we have in a way I didn't expect."

Those words replaced her amusement with curiosity. "What does that mean?"

"Eh." Percy stretched his arms, grabbing and wearing his navy blue shirt. "It's the same attitude a first-timer has. Like, don't get me wrong, I am enjoying this. More than anything."

"I'd hope so." She mused.

"Yes. I am." He smiled reassuringly. "But you know this isn't my first time. I've had something before. And... well, so have you, right? But you still treat this with so much care... It's... I mean, it's curious."

"You are right in that I have been with... countless beings. Just looking at my age." Aphrodite didn't want him to think of her as a slut. That was not what she was. "It has been long since I was held with this much care and love. And long since my feelings for someone were this strong."

"And what are those feelings?" While the intimacy they shared was something she relished, Aphrodite thought it was still early for that. Even her divine brain was still sleepy, but she could try.

"More than desire or lust, I can assure you that." Aphrodite leaned on him. "I feel a burning love, one that I wish could make us inseparable. My heart beats faster once I set my eyes on you... I crave nothing more than your embrace and kiss."

"Alright, you convinced me." Percy kissed the top of her head, getting up from bed. "Know that I love you just as much."

"I don't even need my powers to know that, mon couer. And not even your words are necessary. Your eyes tell me so much."

...

"Just try to understand..."

"Aphrodite, how can I understand that?"

"Because you are not a boy." Her voice was stern. "It means nothing."

"I trust you." Despite his words, Percy's voice shook.

"Then why?!"

Percy sighed, sitting down on the sand. The night's breeze hit them, making the goddess shiver. "Because I'm not used to it. Because I'm jealous. Because I'm human."

"I know you fear the worst..."

"How can I not?" His glare was cold, uninviting.

"I was not looking back." All of this, because of the attention she received at the Summer Solstice. "At anyone. And I shut down Ares. You saw it."

"I am still just a speck of your life. What the hell is stopping you from running away?"

Aphrodite was deeply hurt by those words. "Percy, is this what you think of me?"

"Don't do that. We're past that. You know it will never be this simple."

"I love you, idiot." She dropped to the sand, sitting beside him. "I know I am a goddess. We're putrid, despicable, perverse. I have impulses, I know. But I'm trying to fight them back. Because of my love."

"I know."

"And I'm trying my best."

"I know."

She gazed at him, trying to read his expression. "I won't cheat on you."

"Uh-huh."

"I am serious!" She cried indignantly. "I would never. I don't want to break your heart."

"For how long?"

What?

"This is not a question you should make."

"Why not?" He challenged. "Ten years for me will erase the rest of my youth. For you, they will be meaningless."

"Shut the fuck up." It was clear he was taken aback by her tone and words. "Really, just..." Aphrodite paused, bringing her hands to her hair. "Shut up. Stop being so stubborn, you prick. Truth be told, yes, I am an immortal who could have anyone in the world. Hell, who in their right mind would say no to me? I can ruin marriages, lives, break hearts. I can destroy even the most resilient people with a single glance. But here I am, degrading myself for someone who insists that I will leave him for the first person who appears!"

By the end of her rant, she was panting. Angry. Hurt. Sad.

"I..." He started. "I don't want you to go away."

"I never said I would," Aphrodite reassured. "All this started because you kept this unbeknown to me.."

Percy rubbed his eyes, and she was not oblivious to the presence of tears, even if a small quantity. "Sorry."

"You don't have to be. Just know... I want you..."

"Really?"

"Yes, Percy. Really." Aphrodite still felt hurt by his assumptions. "I wouldn't desire anyone else. I promise."

In response, he simply leaned his head on her shoulder.

Her dress was ruined.

...

"FUCK!" She cried in pleasure. They both reached their climax together, but it was clear that even his semi-divine biology wouldn't let him go any further, which was a shame, but understandable.

She climbed off him, laying down by his side. Both of them were sweaty and exhausted, and he was panting.

It would never not be perfect.

"Why the fuck does it feel so warm in here?"

That was most certainly not what she was expecting, but... "Yes, I noticed."

He raised his head just slightly. "Oh, damn. I closed the window."

Aphrodite chuckled. "Just you."

...

"Are you sure about this?"

"I know it can hinder you, but come on. The only times I left the States was because of Gaia."

"Alright, where to first?"

Percy pondered for a moment. "I always wanted to visit Italy. Without fighting giants this time."

...

"So, are you Venus?" Percy questioned, looking at the statue in front of them.

"Ah!" Aphrodite's image flashed, though her appearance barely changed. No, in her place stood someone different, yet similar.

"Hello," Venus said, leaning over him.

"Hi?" Percy was undoubtedly confused, not sure if he should get closer or farther from the goddess.

"I always wanted to meet you."

"Thanks?"

Venus smiled mischievously.

...

"I can't believe it."

"It didn't feel right."

"Why didn't she blast you?"

Percy shrugged. "She was hurt. I just... it felt like it did in the beginning. With you. When you were Jessica. But not actually."

Aphrodite nodded. "You still were close to..."

"I'm sorry. I don't even know if it counts for cheating."

"Make up for it and I will give you forgiveness."

He looked into her eyes. "How?"

Aphrodite smiled mischievously.

...

"No."

"Okay."

"Don't ever suggest that again."

"Alright." She nodded.

"I will break up with you if you bring that up again."

"I get it, sorry."

...

"Though I don't understand her myself," Aphrodite said. "She is most of the time very... cryptic, I suppose."

"She is just so weird. It was bad enough when I was dating... you know... and she would constantly keep watching me from afar. Now it's like she is amused with... us."

"She is," Aphrodite told him. "A lot."

"That sounds a lot like voyeurism."

To say Aphrodite was shocked would be an understatement. "Percy!"

"What?!"

...

How much time since that date?

Years. Counting time for a god would always be tricky. Especially when mere years were so trivial.

But they weren't anymore. Not in the slightest. Aphrodite remembered everything. All that made the time with him special. His absence was felt. It was torturing, painful, cruel. But all would be well when their lips met again.

And this was one of those days. They had agreed to meet once more in the Montauk beach, and by now Aphrodite had been wise enough to learn what clothing suited a beach better, especially one that was so cold at this time of the year.

She flashed to the beach, hopeful no mortals would notice her, and indeed, as always, the sands had no one standing or lying on them.

That was, for a bit. Because it took mere minutes to see her lover in the distance. It had been an excruciating month without his touch, and so, when her eyes set on his figure in the distance, she ran. She ran forward, lunging at Percy, kissing him deeply.

"Hi." Percy greeted after their lips departed. "I missed you two."

Aphrodite smiled widely. "How have you been?"

"Bored," Percy admitted. "I think I'm gonna throw in the towel and try to graduate in something sea-related."

"If you're doing this because you think your repertoire is limited, well, it isn't."

"I know I'm capable of a lot of things, okay." That statement was just that, a statement. No gloating. "I was just thinking that I do have the option to follow what I like."

"Oh, Percy, don't worry." She gave him a peck on the cheek and let him go of her embrace, holding his hand instead. "What else has happened?"

"Not much." He said when they began walking with their hands held together. "I've just been thinking."

"About what?"

"Life?" Percy smiled. "I've just been realizing how lucky I am."

"Because of me?" Aphrodite teased.

"Of course, I am lucky because of that, but that's not it. It's just that... well, I never expected to live this long."

The goddess looked at him curiously. "Because of the prophecy?"

"Yes, but even beyond that. I never thought I would be approaching my thirties. Nor did I think I'd be dating... you."

"The future is always unpredictable, mon coeur." Aphrodite mused. "I am certain that I will try to be by your side. Everything I do without you is a pain. I am pleased to make you happy."

"You do." He held her hand tighter. "And I dare to say I make you happy too."

"Of course you do, silly." She grinned. "I don't even know how you can make me so happy. It's surreal."

"No, it's very much real." Percy leaned closer to her, kissing her neck.

"Percy..." Aphrodite whispered. "Stop being cruel."

"Cruel?" He smirked, not driving any farther from her.

"It's been a whole month. Don't you think I'm not starved for your touch?"

"I know that. I miss you a lot too. You know that."

"Of course I do." Aphrodite grabbed his hand, making it hold her waist. "We should return to the cabin. I think we can catch up then."

"I couldn't agree more."

...

There was knocking on the door. "Aphrodite? Is everything okay?"

The goddess was panting, kneeling in the middle of the bathroom.

"Yes, dear. I will be with you shortly."

Not even gods were immune to throwing up. With a wave of her hand, the content she had vomited vanished, and she composed herself before exiting the bathroom, a smile on her lips to try and disguise her massive headache.

...

"Fuck."

...

She sat down on the couch, waiting for him to return from the kitchen. He did so soon, bringing a glass of water with him, and gave it to her.

"What was it that you wanted to talk about?" Percy asked, sitting down by her side.

"I need to hear it from your lips. Do you love me?"

He cocked his head to the left. "Even if you weren't a goddess that could quite literally detect my feelings, you'd know I do, in fact, love you."

"I am aware. I needed to hear from you." Why was she so tense? It had never been this hard. "I... Something has happened."

Percy's jaw immediately clenched, his shoulder tensing. "And what was that?"

"I hope I don't make you mad..." Aphrodite took a deep breath, her kaleidoscope eyes meeting Percy's.

Only when their gazes met, she understood why it was so difficult to say it this time.

"I am pregnant."